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Zambia’s mining sector edged into growth territory in the first half of 2026, according to the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development, though the numbers reveal a story of uneven gains rather than a uniform boom. Aggregate copper production rose by 0.45%, climbing from 445,175 metric tonnes in the first half of 2025 to 447,181 metric tonnes this year, a modest increase that officials are nonetheless framing as evidence that reform is beginning to translate into output.
Permanent Secretary Hapenga M. Kabeta, briefing journalists in Lusaka on recently, positioned the figures within a longer economic narrative rather than treating them as an isolated data point. “The mining sector continues to play a central role in our economic transformation agenda as a key driver towards Zambia’s Vision 2030 of becoming a prosperous middle income economy,” said Kabeta. The framing matters for a government that has staked considerable political capital on mining as the engine of broader diversification and the marginal copper gain gives it just enough momentum to justify that bet, even if the growth itself is thin.
The copper increase was driven by improved output at Kansanshi, Konkola Copper Mines, Lumwana, Lubambe, Sentinel and Mufulira, a spread across major operators that suggests the recovery is not dependent on any single asset. Mopani Copper Mines and NFC Africa Mining, by contrast, recorded marginal declines that Kabeta attributed to planned maintenance and operational challenges, a reminder that Zambia’s production base still carries pockets of fragility even as the aggregate trend improves.
Beyond copper, the sharper growth numbers came from smaller but rapidly expanding subsectors. Gold production increased by 10.94%, cobalt output rose by 17.89%, nickel production surged by 143%, manganese jumped by 287% and coal production grew by 14.13% on rising domestic and export demand. Kabeta singled out gold for particular attention, noting that the contribution of gold to the country’s production statistics is expected to increase further because of the institutional and legal reforms government is implementing in the sector.
Not every indicator moved in the government’s favour. Small scale copper production fell by 35.2%, a decline Kabeta linked to inadequate domestic supplies of sulphuric acid and a rainy season that ended later than usual. The shortage has hit both Mopani and small scale miners, prompting a direct appeal from the Permanent Secretary to domestic acid producers. He added, “We appeal to producers of sulphuric acid to prioritise the local market before exports because both Mopani and small scale miners have been negatively affected by inadequate supplies.” This is a statement that exposes a structural vulnerability in the domestic supply chain that reform alone cannot immediately fix.
On regulation, Kabeta reported that the newly established Mineral Regulation Commission had processed 818 mineral rights applications in the period, approving 444, of which 305 were artisanal mining rights reserved specifically for Zambian citizens. A further 316 applications remain deferred, while 58 were rejected outright for failing to meet statutory requirements, figures that point to a licensing regime attempting to balance faster throughput against tighter compliance.
Formalisation efforts have also accelerated, with government training more than 600 mining cooperatives and strengthening safety standards, particularly within the gold mining subsector in Mufumbwe District. Implementation of the Local Content Regulations, which took effect on 1 January 2026, has likewise gained traction, with 76 mining companies now onboarded onto the electronic Local Content Access System designed to widen opportunities for Zambian suppliers.
Kabeta was explicit that he does not regard the half year’s performance as incidental. “The progress recorded in the first half of 2026 was not accidental. It is the result of deliberate reforms, bold decisions and a shared vision to build a transparent, resilient and sustainable mining sector that benefits every Zambian,” said Kabeta. He closed with an update on exploration infrastructure, disclosing that Zambia’s high resolution airborne geophysical survey has now reached 87.5% national coverage, with full completion expected before the end of 2026, a dataset that could ultimately do more to shape the next decade of investment than any single production figure released this year.
KCM Turns Zambia’s Agricultural Show into a Stage for a 10 000 Tonne Copper Milestone
Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) has used this year’s Zambia Agricultural and Commercial Show as a platform to declare a genuine inflection point in its recovery story. Over four days in Jubilee Hall, the company moved from showcasing its transformation journey to confirming, in hard production numbers, that the turnaround it has promised investors and government alike is now measurable.
The headline figure landed on day four, when Acting Chief Executive Officer Malcolm Mewett told stakeholders gathered at the KCM stand that monthly copper production had exceeded 10,000 tonnes in July. He described the milestone as a critical step toward the company’s next target of 15,000 tonnes per month and situated it within a broader strategy he called “Fix, Run, Ramp and Grow.” Mewett said, “KCM has now marked two years since the restart of operations and continues to make significant progress under our transformation strategy.”
That production breakthrough is being underwritten by an investment pipeline Mewett valued at roughly US$1.7 billion. The centrepiece is the Konkola Deep Mining Project, which is set to receive more than US$1 billion over the next four years, alongside a second Tailings Leach Plant costing approximately US$700 million, thermal power initiatives and expansion work at Nampundwe and the Nkana Refinery. For a company that only restarted operations two years ago, the scale of committed capital signals a level of confidence executives are keen to make visible to Zambian stakeholders rather than simply to shareholders abroad.
Chief Corporate Affairs Officer John Kunda framed the numbers around economic diversification rather than mining alone. Speaking on behalf of the Acting CEO, he told an audience that included Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet for Finance and Economic Development Siazongo Siakalenge, representing Vice President Mutale Nalumango, that “fostering trade and investment speaks directly to the role that strategic investment plays in unlocking economic opportunities for businesses, communities and the nation.” Kunda added that while copper remains the backbone of the economy, agriculture, small and medium enterprises and commerce are equally central to job creation, food security and inclusive growth.
Local content has become the company’s preferred proof point. KCM has awarded approximately ZMW12.2 billion or US$662 million, in contracts to Zambian enterprises, an achievement executives repeated at nearly every stop of the Show. Procurement from local suppliers has climbed to 52%, up from 31% before the mine’s revival, translating into roughly 1,500 contracts and purchase orders placed with Zambian contractors.
The company’s visibility at the Show drew a steady procession of senior officials through Jubilee Hall. Permanent Secretary Crusivia Hichikumba, who oversees investment and industrialisation at the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, toured the stand and commended KCM’s commitment to local content, noting that such investment aligns with government’s economic diversification agenda. Secretary to the Cabinet Patrick Kangwa later presided as Guest of Honour when KCM was formally recognised for its Diamond Sponsorship of the Show, an award received by Kunda on the company’s behalf.
“KCM is proud to be part of this year’s Show. Our participation reflects our belief that mining, agriculture, SMEs and commerce must work together to unlock Zambia’s economic potential,” said Kunda. Mewett closed his remarks to stakeholders with an acknowledgment that the company’s progress has depended on more than internal execution. He concluded, “Our journey is exciting and while there is still much to accomplish, we are building a stronger future together. We invite everyone visiting the Show to stop by the KCM stand, engage with our team and learn more about the opportunities ahead.”
The week at Jubilee Hall reads less like a routine trade show appearance and more like a company using a public platform to formally mark its own recovery, with production data, investment commitments and government endorsement arriving in quick succession to reinforce a single narrative, that KCM is scaling.
